This page has been superseded by an interactive map
When the Americans came to Bristol in the Second World War, they took over buildings across the city, built barracks in open ground and were billeted in private houses. It seems there were no parts of the city that didn’t have Yanks staying. This is the beginning of a list of places with direct American connections, which will grow as I learn of more. If you can help, please email YanksinBristol@gmail.com
| Site | Road/Area | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Clifton College | College Road, Clifton | V Corps Headquarters First Army Headquarters Ninth Army Headquarters (post D-Day) |
| Clifton College Sports Ground | Beggar(s) Bush Lane, Abbots Leigh Holly Bush Lane, | Air strip to convey documentation from First Army Headquarters |
| The Holmes | Stoke Bishop | Accommodation for General Omar Bradley,commander of First Army |
| Clifton Down | Ladies Mile, Clifton | Military vehicle storage |
| Durdham Down | Sea Walls | Armoured Fighting Vehicle servicing area |
| Vassall Centre | Gill Avenue, Fishponds | Accommodation huts and offices? |
| Shirehampton Park Golf Course | Park Hill, Shirehampton | Accommodation huts |
| Frenchay Hospital | Frenchay | Used by various US hospital units |
| Tenniscourt Road/Siston Common | Between Anchor and Dawn Rise, New Cheltenham | Accommodation huts |
| Muller Orphanges | Muller Road, Ashley Down | Accommodation |
| Sefton Park School | Williamson Road, Ashley Down | Offices and base |
| Victoria Park | Bedminster | Stores dump |
| Siston Common | Fisher Road | Accommodation huts |
| Ashton Court Manor | Ashton Court | US Army Hospital? |
| Lockleaze? | ||
| American Red Cross Services Club | Berkeley Square | Canteen recommended in guide book. |
| American Red Cross Services Club | Great George Street | Canteen recommended in guide book |
| American Red Cross Services Club | Royal West of England Academy, Queen’s Road | Replacement when Berkeley Square was too small |
| American Consul | Mr Roy W. Baker, 18 Baldwin Street | |
| Wesley’s Chapel | Broadmead | Visited by many American Methodists |
| Y.M.C.A | 44 College Road | Leave Hostel for officers and enlisted men |
| Y.M.C.A | Colston Street | Mainly civilian |
| Y.M.C.A | Victoria Street | Transients only |
| York House Hostel | Bath Bridge | Leave hostel for women. Given by Bristol, Rhode Island |
| Church Army Services Club | Broadmead | Rest and relaxation |
| Soroptimists’ Club | 15 Upper Belgrave Road, Clifton | Rest and relaxation |
| Colston Hall | Colston Street | Theatre frequented by all armed forces personnel |
| Bristol Grammar School | University Road | Ceremony for meeting of UK and US Bristols |
| Royal Empire Society | Whiteladies Road | Rendezvous for British Commonwealth and American troops |
| Merchant Sailor’s Club | Park Street | Social club |
| Bristol Cathedral | College Green | Thanksgiving Day Service |
| Colonel Henry Washington Memorial | Queens Road, Clifton | Independence Day service |
| Bonded Tobacco Warehouse | Bedminster | G Depot for Comms Z – largest of 20 supply depots |
| Avonmouth Docks | Avonmouth | Stores and supplies, main aircraft receiving port |
| Wapley Common | Near Yate | Port Intransit Depot |
| Private Homes | Westbury-on-Trym Shirehampton Henleaze Stoke Bishop Fishponds Patchway Knowle Sea Mills Stoke Bishop Little Stoke | |
| Ashton Court Park | Storage | Tanks, trucks and other vehicles |
| Old Drill Hall | Old Market Street | Initial billet for African Americans |
| Victoria Rooms | Triangle, Clifton | The scene of many dances attended by both American servicemen and local women |
| Grand Hotel | Broad Street | Hotel that tried to refuse a room to General Bradley |
| Greyhound Track | Knowle (now Ravenhead Drive, Allamead Drive, Long Eaton Drive | US Army camp |
| Red Lodge? | ||
| Bellow’s Society | ||
| Filton Airfield | ||
| Radnor Hotel | St Nicholas St. | Only gay pub in Bristol in WW2. Requented by gay GIs from Clifton College |
| Kings Weston House | Kingsweston | US Army camp |
| Frenchay Common | Frenchay | Field used for baseball |
| The Green | Park Place, Clifton | Used for Independence Day ceremony |
| Washington Memorial | Outside Bristol Museum, Clifton | Used for Independence Day ceremony |
| Church Lane | Old Market | Area notorious for ‘goodbyes’ between G.I.s and their girlfriends. |
| Cooperative Bakery (at the dairy) | Whitby Road | Secret storage facility for D-Day planning |
| Pitch & Pay House | Pitch & Pay Lane, Sneyd Park | HQ of 519th Port Battalion |
| Stoke Lodge | Shirehampton Road, Stoke Bishop | Nissan huts provided possible mess |
| Sea Mills Camps | Penpole Lane | US Army base |
| Packer’s Chocolate Factory | Turley Road, Greenbank | US Army stores |
| Glenside Hospital grounds | Manor Road, Fishponds | US Army camp |
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